Substate Preview: 3A-8

<!-- wp:image {"id":2348311,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/01/3A-8.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/01/3A-8.png?w=614" alt="" class="wp-image-2348311" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The favorite: ADM</strong> has been one of the best, and most consistent, teams in 3A this season. After a season-opening blowout loss at the hands of Dallas Center-Grimes, the Tigers responded by winning 16 straight. They've lost two of their last three games (at time of writing, still have a game against Newton Thursday night), but with a pretty manageable draw at the top of this bracket, they have to be considered a pretty heavy favorite. Senior wing [player_tooltip player_id='1222528' first='Adam' last='Bryte'] (16.0, 7.7 rebounds, 39.0 3P%) leads a balanced group of offensive weapons, and this is a group that has a bunch of pieces that complement each other well. In Bryte, Hudson Lorsensen (15.2, 45.0 3P%), and [player_tooltip player_id='1978146' first='Hudson' last='Shull'] (6.8, 38.4 3P%), they have plenty of shooting to space the floor. In [player_tooltip player_id='2325263' first='Grant' last='Rychnovsky'] (10.9, 6.7 rebounds), they have a big man who can control the paint and the glass, while scoring efficiently around the rim. And in [player_tooltip player_id='2325258' first='Rhylan' last='Stine-Smith'] (9.9, 6.0 assists, 2.25 assist-to-turnover), they have a steady point guard who can break down a defense, protect the ball, and find the open man. Trevor Mickelson has built ADM's program up in a hurry, and this is the type of dynamic offensive team that can win it all in 3A.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The biggest threat: </strong>After losing Colby Collison and Jaxson Fried to graduation, and [player_tooltip player_id='1587403' first='Reed' last='Pfaltzgraff'] to a knee injury during football season, defending champion <strong>Bondurant-Farrar </strong>was going to have a difficult time living up to expectations this season. And while the Bluejays are just 11-9 on the year, they've proven themselves to be very capable of making noise in the class still, posting good wins over Ballard, Gilbert, Roosevelt, Winterset, and Knoxville, and they have a dynamic three-level scorer who can take over games in senior wing [player_tooltip player_id='1288861' first='Tanner' last='Berggren'] (21.8, 6.0 rebounds). Berggren had one of the most productive summers of any player in the state, and on a team that really needed someone to step up, he has been fantastic. Junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2397237' first='Cole' last='Miller'] (12.6, 6.9 assists), one of the breakout stars of last year's state tournament, has been really good as a playmaking guard, and junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2397327' first='Hudson' last='McConnell'] (10.8, 46.9 3P%) has been electric as a shooting threat from deep. The Jays were swept by ADM, but those losses came by 7 and 11 points, so getting a third shot at the Tigers would certainly be a welcome thought for the players from Bondurant.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The dark horses: </strong>Legendary coach Mitch Osborn doesn't have his most talented team ever down in <strong>Harlan</strong>, but the Cyclones have been solid enough, especially on the defensive end of the floor, to be considered a sleeper here. Forward [player_tooltip player_id='2325354' first='Franz' last='Reisz'] (12.5, 8.4 rebounds, 54.0 FG%) gives them some size, rebounding, and rim protection, while Jason Erlemeier (10.4, 47.8 3P%) has been one of the best shooters in the state this season, knocking down 55 3-pointers at a very impressive clip. With that type of inside-out game, and the usual strong defense and athletes that Harlan has, they'll always be a tough out in postseason play. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Carroll </strong>started the season 8-2, but have gone just 2-8 down the stretch, losing five of those games by single digits. The Tigers have a dominant interior player in [player_tooltip player_id='1476977' first='Evan' last='Hammer'] (19.1, 10.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 1.7 blocks), an athletic forward who can take over games on both ends of the floor, and he can be a difficult matchup for opposing teams in this substate. Caden Lengeling (10.9) and Stone Sibenaller (5.7) are the top perimeter shooting threats, but this is a team that doesn't shoot it particularly well from the arc (27.7% as a team). They pound the offensive glass, pulling down 11.5 offensive rebounds a game, which helps get some extra possessions, but they'll need to find someone who can knock down a few 3s if they want to make some real noise in this substate.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline">Players to watch<br></span>2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1222528' first='Adam' last='Bryte'], ADM<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1978130' first='Hudson' last='Lorensen'], ADM<br>2024 [player_tooltip player_id='2325263' first='Grant' last='Rychnovsky'], ADM<br>2024 [player_tooltip player_id='2325258' first='Rhylan' last='Stine-Smith'], ADM<br>2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1288861' first='Tanner' last='Berggren'], Bondurant-Farrar<br>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='2397237' first='Cole' last='Miller'], Bondurant-Farrar<br>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='2397327' first='Hudson' last='McConnell'], Bondurant-Farrar<br>2024 [player_tooltip player_id='2325354' first='Franz' last='Reisz'], Harlan<br>2024 Jason Erlemeier, Harlan<br>2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1376724' first='Luke' last='Wiebers'], Denison-Schleswig<br>2024 [player_tooltip player_id='2325320' first='Lance' last='Arkfeld'], Denison-Schleswig<br>2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1476977' first='Evan' last='Hammer'], Carroll<br>2024 Payton Wardell, Carroll<br>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1874784' first='Jake' last='Hoyt'], Creston<br>2024 Cael Turner, Creston<br>2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1587472' first='Tony' last='Davidson'], Creston<br>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='2721697' first='Geren' last='Kenney'], Perry<br>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='2721707' first='Owen' last='Myers'], Perry<br>2024 Drake Levan, Perry<br>2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1376690' first='Colton' last='Rasmussen'], Atlantic<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2413616' first='Gavin' last='McLaren'], Atlantic</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>SUBSTATE FINAL PREDICTION</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>ADM vs. Bondurant-Farrar</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>ADM swept the season series, and while Bondurant-Farrar would certainly like to get another shot at the Tigers, ADM simply has a little too much firepower for the Bluejays to keep up with. There will be a new champion in 3A, as <strong>ADM</strong> knocks off the defending champs and punches their ticket to Des Moines.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->